Work Text:
There’s a vase full of fresh flowers sitting on Atsushi’s work desk. The vase is made of clear and expensive crystal, thin and straight, with vines etched into its sides, then opens up at the top like blooming petals. It’s bursting with flowers, each one with a carefully picked meaning.
Kyouka walks him through each one in her usual soft voice.
There are irises for good tidings, red camellias for modesty, violet chrysanthemums for dreams fulfilled, daffodils for respect, and edelweiss to give one courage.
She continues on, giving each petal a delicate touch, and Atsushi’s throat burns with bile. Hydrangea symbolize pride, peonies for bravery, and yellow poppies assure success.
“A well-thought-out bouquet. Whoever gifted this cares deeply for you.”
Atsushi gives Kyouka his sweetest smile and thanks her. He wants to pick up the vase, open the window, and hurl it down. He envisions it, the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces, the heavy weight of the vase in his hands, the satisfaction of it shattering to pieces on the concrete.
He imagines the Headmaster spent a significant amount of money on the vase alone, that he spent hours agonizing over which flower to add to the massive bouquet.
He wants to ruin something the Headmaster gifted him, he wishes he could see the devastation on that man’s face as his present is destroyed before his eyes.
But when the Headmaster appeared before him as he wrapped up a case with Tanizaki, he froze like a coward, heart beating violently in front of the man who tortured and tormented him his entire life.
Words of congratulations were delivered with a smile and proud eyes as Atsushi waited for his expression to twist, for his words to melt into poison. The vase was handed to him and he accepted it with trembling hands. It took all his strength not to collapse under the weight of a warm palm on his shoulder, terrified that it would strike and beat him, pull his hair, and yank his head back.
Tanizaki questioned him but he deflected with a nervous laugh. Kyouka asked him in the office and he did the same.
Dazai and Ranpo stare at him with expressions that he refuses to entertain.
Atsushi clenches his jaw and swallows his teeth.